Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I welcome that the Minister of State mentioned the meeting about financing for development and the potential for further engagement. It would be good to have further engagement if we could, maybe in writing, about the agenda and outcomes of that meeting and the G20 meeting, which I do not believe we had an opportunity to touch on but is, of course, crucial from a trade perspective and the wider areas of co-operation. We talked a little about replacing the aid that is there and how we fill the gaps. When the global gag rule kicked in during the first Trump Presidency, we had a huge step up in areas such as women's rights and women's reproductive health. We are not seeing that now. We are also facing much negative propaganda about aid. Will the Minister of State comment not just on Ireland's role in encouraging aid continuity but also on countering some of the negative narratives about aid internationally? Ireland's record of untied aid is important.

Will the Minister of State comment on ongoing support for civil society organisations and self-advocacy in developing countries? They are crucial in tackling the root causes of inequality and injustice. We should continue that advocacy funding, which is often the first to go. At home in Ireland, will the Minister of State comment on organisations like Comhlámh and the Irish Development Education Association, IDEA, and the importance of supporting development education and continuing that strong understanding of our global interconnectedness, where development sits within that and the perspective that Ireland can bring as a post-colonial country? We can bring something very different to the understanding. It would be welcome if the Minister of State commented on ongoing plans in those strands.